THE National Water Commission (NWC), says over $1 billion worth of revenue has been lost to theft and internal fraud since the start of the year.

The most recent case of fraud involves NWC zone team leader Carlton Bogle, who was offered $100,000 bail in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court last week after investigations by NWC security and an internal audit revealed that Bogle had been writing false bills and collecting $1.25 million between 2005 and 2008.

Bogle is charged with 34 counts of fraud and is expected to reappear in court on October 6.

NWC communications manager Charles Buchanan said internal fraud as well as theft from the NWC’s water supply is crippling the company financially.

“The commission is losing significant revenue due to theft and fraud from consumers, and unfortunately there are some cases of theft and fraud which occur with the collusion of employees. Lost revenue is in excess of $1 billion,” Buchanan told the Observer.

In addition to Bogle’s case, the NWC has dismissed a member of staff who was found guilty of using the company’s advance card to acquire over $600,000 worth of petrol. The fuel was used for private purposes and after an internal investigation the employee was fired.

The Commission is also probing another case involving the stealing of just under $600,000 worth of petrol using the same method.

According to Buchanan, there were other cases involving dishonest employees in the pipeline.

“We have other cases investigating at this time involving managers and workers. The problem has escalated since the economic crunch has set in,” he said.

But staff dishonesty is only part of the problem and the Commission has responded by stepping up their continuous drive to flush out the illegal practice of water theft from its pipelines.

Just last week, NWC staff, accompanied by the police, conducted a major operation in St Elizabeth and disconnected 18 illegal connections from the Malvern pipeline.

The illegal water was being used to water legal and illegal crops.

During the operation the narcotics police also destroyed three and a half acres of fully grown marijuana plants and 300 pounds of cured ganja in a hut.

The theft of water from the Malvern pipeline has had a crippling effect on the farming belt of St Elizabeth whose farmers are highly dependent on the water supply.

The water thieves reportedly leave their pipes on and legitimate customers suffer from low water pressure and poor water quality, the Commission claims.

“It affects the water supply to Junction, Bull Savannah, Top Hill, Ballards Valley, the Hampton School for Girls, Munro College and the Bethlehem Teachers’ College,” Buchanan said.

He said, however, that paying customers would not be required to foot the bill for the stolen water.

“The NWC’s legitimate customer only pays for the water that comes through their pipeline,” Buchanan said.

He also urged members of the public to report any theft or fraud against the Commission.